An average of 14.1 million viewers saw the 90 minute-long programme, reaching a peak of 15.3 million at 2200 GMT - a record 62.2% of the TV audience - shortly before McFadden was revealed as the winner.

It tied for the night's top-rating programme with the 1930 GMT edition of Coronation Street.

Bond, who came second, described her time on the show as "such fun with moments of utter horror".

Singer Peter Andre, who came third in the contest, told the show's hosts Ant McPartlin and Dec Donnelly: "It's been the best thing I've ever done in my life. And the worst."

Andre's single Mysterious Girl is being re-released

He appeared to be surprised when he was told that his on/off romance with fellow contestant Jordan had hit the front pages of the tabloids.

"We really need to talk, me and her - we've got a lot to discuss. She's a wonderful girl - I didn't expect us to click like that," he added.

McFadden won despite failing her final "bushtucker trial" on the last night of the show, when she refused to lie in a tank and have thousands of cockroaches dropped on top of her.

Andre successfully completed his task, which involved a similar ordeal to McFadden's, but the tank also had several large spiders inside it.

REALITY RATINGS

I'm A Celebrity... final (ITV1, Feb 04) - 14.1m

Pop Idol final(ITV1, Dec 03) - 12m

Celebrity Wife Swap(C4, Nov 03) - 6m

Fame Academy final(BBC One, Oct 03) - 8m

Big Brother 4 final(C4, July 03) - 7.4m (peak)

Celebrity Big Brother final(C4, Nov 02)- 6m

I'm A Celebrity... final(ITV1, May 03) - 12.3m

I'm A Celebrity... final(ITV1, Sept 02) - 11m

Big Brother 3 final(C4, July 02) - 9.9m (peak)

Survivor final(ITV1, May 02) - 6.4m

All figures are from unofficial overnight statistics.

ITV denied reports it had commissioned a fourth series of the show for as early as November this year, despite strong ratings of more than 10 million viewers a show, but said another series was likely.

McFadden has been tearful during her stay in the Australian jungle, and initially appeared to be on the verge of quitting.

Her ratings may have been boosted after former Sex Pistol and punk John Lydon, the previous favourite, said that he hoped she would win the show.

"I'd like her to do it for her kids. She's a tough little cookie underneath all that. I think it would be great for her - she deserves it. She's a real person," he said.

The show's line-up of 10 celebrities also included athlete Diane Modahl, glamour model Jordan, aristcrat and former convict Lord Brocket, former Radio 1 DJ Mike Read, former footballer Neil Ruddock and Alex Best, the estranged wife of soccer legend George Best.